Goals aplenty to start 1st Division season

By Cayman Sports Buzz
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: 30 October 2016

A dozen goals were scored at the Annex

A total of 14 goals were scored in three matches on the opening day of play in the 2016-17 CIFA First Division season on Saturday, 29 October, with George Town, North Side and Alliance each picking up wins.

George Town 5, Savannah Tigers 1

Led by a hat-trick from Ariel Tatum, George Town dominated Savannah Tigers at the Annex.

Triphon Minzett put Tigers ahead in the 11^th minute when George Town failed to cleanly defend a corner kick toward goal and he tapped in the rebound.

Tigers maintained the lead through the first 33 minutes until Tatum scored the first of his three goals, all from free kicks. The first, from about 25 yards out, was curled around a wall of defenders and into the back of the net to bring the scores level.

George Town took the lead seven minutes later in the 40^th, when once again, Tatum stepped up to take a free kick – this time from less than five yards inside the half. Tigers keeper Roy Nicholson Ochoa came off the line to make a save but that mistake saw the ball pass over his outstretched hands and into the back of the net.

Another free kick for George Town in the 44^th minute from the top of the 18-yard box gave Tatum his hat-trick and the team from the capital a 3-1 advantage at the half. (See Tatum’s three goals in video below)

An own-goal by Tigers in the 51^st made it 4-1, then six minutes later Leon Whittaker connected a cross to the boot of substitute Junior Welcome, who drove it past the keeper with the final goal of the game.

Tyrese Berry came inches from adding a second for Tigers late in the game when Frank Cornwall left the George Town net vacant but the shot hit the post. That was Tigers’ best scoring chance of the second.

George Town next plays Alliance FC on 5 November at Ed Bush Sports Complex at 8:00 p.m., while Tigers face Cayman Brac FC at the Annex with a 5:45 p.m. kickoff.

North Side 6, East End United 0

Guiton King started his season with a hat-trick for North Side.

North Side dominated their neighbour from the eastern districts on the back of a hat-trick from Guiton King and two goals by Floyd McKenzie.

It only took two minutes for King to open his account when sloppy East End defending presented an easy chance that he took advantage of. McKenzie followed suit in the 8^th minute to double the lead.

It could have easily been 3-0 a few moments later but East End keeper O’Shane Henry made a solid save to prevent the game from getting away from them. Sean Ebanks, whose play was one of the bright spots for East End, missed from point blank range in the 25^th. Three minutes later, a rocket of a shot from King gave North Side the 3-0 advantage it was seeking.

King’s hat-trick came in the 36^th minute when McKenzie found him with a cross that he drove decisively into the goal. North Side took a 4-0 lead into the break with their keeper, Timothy Wesley hardly being asked to break a sweat.

North Side stretched the lead to five goals in the 64^th with his second of the night. About 12 minutes later, Wesley was forced to make his first save of the game as he denied Armani McLaughlin.

Giovanni Wesley, who emerged from the substitutes bench in the second half gave North Side their sixth goal in the 86^th minute.

North Side, which missed out on a spot in the Cayman Premier League after losing to Sunset in the playoff at the end of last season, will look for its second win of the new campaign when they face Future at Ed Bush Sports complex on 5 November at 5:45 p.m. Meantime, East End United gets a bye next week and will have extra time to remedy the issues spotted by the coaching staff in the opener.

CIFA President Lee Ramoon (right) and National U17 coach Ernie Seymour were among those taking in the action at the Annex.

CIFA President Lee Ramoon (right) and National U17 coach Ernie Seymour (centre) were among those taking in the action at the Annex.

Future SC 0, Alliance FC 2

At Ed Bush Sports Complex, Alliance FC beat Future SC with two first half goals to pick up three points to start the CIFA First Division season.

Cordell Andre found the back of the net in the 20th minute and Javon Taylor doubled the lead 11 minutes later.

With the game all but decided, Future’s N. Ebanks was shown a red card for punching in added time and will sit out his team’s next fixture at the same venue against North Side on 5 November at 5:45 p.m. Then at 8:00 p.m., Alliance FC will take on George Town, which also won its opener.